It is with sad news that I have to inform all of the members of the MRC that Tony Crossley (TonyC) passed away on Tuesday evening.
As you may be aware Tony spent many years racing where he always played an active part in both the paddock and with the owners clubs. He had an passion for fast cars, whether it was building, watching, racing, teaching, or talking.....and oh boy could he talk about them!
He always drove with an aim to “Just Go Faster†no matter what angle the car was pointing! He played a tactical game always waiting for the right moment to go for the lead, and the Rx7 gave him everything he needed.
Tony started building the car in the narrowest of spaces! Often having to move one side as close to the wall as possible just to have enough room to work on the other. He actually proved to be quite supple!! Eventually the build was finished at our workshop....we did joke about squeezing him into a corner so he could feel at home!
He won plenty of races in the Nippon Challenge which given the state of the existing turbos he was running was incredible!
Tony spent a large chunk of time progressing the car ready for the next season. He worked tirelessly on the car, but just before the season was about to start he was struggling with his balance. The doctors thought it was just an ear infection, but after 2-3 weeks he went for a CT scan, and this confirmed the worst.
I\'ve never met a more positive person, he pushed through with friends and family believing that he would make a full recovery and after a round of surgery, radio therapy and chemo it all looked promising. He slowly started back to work, and we started making plans for testing the car.
Unfortunately he fell ill again and within a couple of months the cancer took hold and Tony passed away quietly with his wife by his side.
Tony leaves behind a loving wife and two children, as well as a lot of close friends.
(http://www.atomicrex.co.uk/downloads/BBQ%20Special.jpg)
Very sad news. Our thoughts go out to his family.
This is really sad news. Having met him twice, once at his house and once at oulton park last year. One of the nicest guys I have ever met, and talked to me for ages about his car when I went to his house.
He will be greatly missed.
Met Tony once, but he came across as a very nice guy who clearly loved racing RX7\'s.
My condolences to his family.
Its a sad news. My condolences to his family and friends
Mir
My condolences to his family and friends
I never met tony but did watch his progress.
Our thoughts go out to his family at this tough time
Brian
I\'m not sure if I met met Tony in person but he was always a really nice guy on the club and an inspiration to a lot of the guys looking at racing and trackdays.
He will be sorely missed.
Shaun
Condolences to his family, I bought some calipers off Tony a while back and he was very sound sorting me out.
May he rest in peace.. sad sad loss.. :(
R.I.P. Tony :(
Sad news indeed, Tony was a gentleman.
I don\'t think I ever met Tony, but it is very, very sad to hear of a really active rotary enthusiast dying in such a tragic manner. My condolences to his family.
Sorry Jon i didn\'t quite get what you said to me about Tony today until i read this.
I had the pleasure of Tony as my passenger/instructor round Oulton park last year in wet, his enthusiasm and passion were clearly evident even though he was suffering at the time. My deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.
Very sad to read about Tony\'s death :(
I\'m deeply sorry to hear this, Tony was a great guy.
I enjoyed talking with him in the early day when he began to build up his seven and followed his progress when he started to race it.
Very very sad news...